Category: Wrapping Up The Month

EDIT:It’s a good thing I pre-scheduled this post to go out today, because I am currently tucked up in bed with a fever and the start of a chest infection. I haven’t even been able to read or do anything but try and sleep, which sucks and I’m just hoping I feel better soon.

I felt that June was a busy month, not just because I was busy reading some great books, but also the fact that I started writing a new story that seems to have taken over my life. Trying to squeeze everything in is a challenge, especially when my boyfriend and I are watching a TV show that’s on every night at 9 (it’s Love Island for anyone intrigued) and it’s made me realise that losing an hour really does make a difference.

At the beginning of the month I set myself a target of reading 6 books, but unfortunately I only managed 5. I am totally putting the blame on my writing for that as there were some times when I wrote in the evening instead of reading. I also slacked a little on writing reviews, so there are a couple that haven’t been written yet but I’ll get around to them soon.

Books I Read…

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

The first book I read in June was Empire of Storms, the fifth book in the Throne of Glass series and boy was it a big read. With over 600 pages and a small font, it took me a while to make my way through this book. Not to mention the fact that there is so much to take in, but I have to say that I really enjoyed it and that’s evident in my very long review, which you can read here. I’ve heard that the next book, Tower of Dawn, is only about Chaol and what he was up to during the events of Empire of Storm, so I am really excited to read the final instalment, Kingdom of Ash, when it comes out in October.

Frozen Tides by Morgan Rhodes

In June I picked up the next couple of books in the Falling Kingdoms series and flew through them. I love everything about this series and the characters, especially Cleo and Magnus, with the latter growing on me within this book. There was plot twist after plot twist, and we got to see sides of characters that we hadn’t seen before. While it was a little slow in the beginning, it really took off in the second half. As the series goes on more perspectives are added, such as Amara and Nic, which adds another dimension to the series. Overall, I really enjoyed Frozen Tides and ended up giving it 4 stars.

Crystal Storm by Morgan Rhodes

As soon as I finished the previous book I dived straight into Crystal Storm and loved every second of it. So much happened and I still can’t get over the ending. There were some very interesting revelations regarding some characters, Jonas being one of them and I have a feeling he will play a big part in the final book. I also enjoyed finding out more about the Sanctuary and what Lucia’s role is in saving it. Of course, there is a lot of betrayal, as there always is in these books, and so many shocking events that take place at the end. I wish I had the sixth book but I’m just going to have to wait patiently and read what I already have. A five star read for me!

Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman

This book…Words cannot describe how incredible this book is and how worthy it is of being a sequel to Scythe, which is probably my favourite read of the year so far. This series has one of the most intriguing worlds that I’ve ever read and we learn so much more in Thunderhead, especially about the all-powerful Thunderhead which watches over the population. I won’t say too much because I wrote a very long review, but the last 50 pages absolutely blew my mind and I am still reeling after having finished it over a week ago. You can check out my review for this 5 star read here.

This was a last minute buy on my Kindle, mainly because I couldn’t stop seeing people raving about this series and I felt like I was missing out. A Ember in the Ashes was such a great read and very different from other books I have read. I love the Roman influence with the brutal Empire, the terrifying Commandant and the way the Scholars are ruled by them with force. I’m not gonna lie, there are some tough scenes in this book with children dying, slaves being whipped and gruesome injuries, but the characters are incredible. There are two perspectives, Laia and Elias, and I can’t decide who I like more. I really enjoyed the journey that these two took and how their paths crossed eventually. I have yet to write a review, but you can expect to see it very soon!

While I didn’t read as much as I wanted to, I’m still happy with all these books as they were four stars and above! I feel like 5 is a good number to predict in a month, especially with all my other hobbies, and any more books is just a bonus!

It’s been a few weeks since I last took part in WWW Wednesday, but I have a perfectly good reason. Almost three weeks ago I came up with a story idea which wasn’t the one I was currently editing (which my mum moaned about because I can never stick to one thing). It came to me out of the blue and everything was so clear; the characters, the story, the romance, the antagonists, everything! So I just had to start writing it and I haven’t stopped since. I’ve written 27,000 words so far and it has basically taken over my life. I can’t stop thinking about it.

For a little bit of background the story features a race called the Dracari who have the ability to shift forms into dragons and each one has an elemental power. I won’t give away what my main character, Afira, has as her power, but each Dracari has a dragon guardian and hers is Kato. I absolutely love writing about their relationship because it is different to anything else I have done before. Of course there is a handsome clansman who she has some history with and there are the hunters in the neighbouring Kingdom that have broken the treaty. Or have they? I can’t say too much, but I am so excited to keep on writing!

So, yeah. That is the reason why I haven’t been around a lot, but I am going to try and change that.

What Are You Currently Reading?

This is a book series that I am seeing everywhere, especially as the third book just came out, so I knew I had to start it. I am already over 30% of the way through (I’m reading on my Kindle) and I’m really enjoying it. I can see how it has been inspired by the Roman legions and there’s quite a bit of brutality, which is to be expected. I love the dual perspectives from Laia and Elias, and how different they are. It will be interesting to see how their paths cross and what will happen. Something tells me I’ll want to buy the second one when I finish it.

What Did You Recently Finish Reading?

This book wrecked me. I still can’t get over it and I finished it 5 days ago! I think the Arc of a Scythe series is my favourite ever. I can’t even begin to describe how much I love the writing, the world building, the diverse characters and all the political drama that comes with the Scythedom. Scythe was a perfect book and I wasn’t sure it would be topped. I was wrong.

Thunderhead was an incredible read and the last fifty pages had me holding my breath because it was so tense. 2019 seems so far away, which is when The Toll comes out, and it’s made even worse by the fact that it had a cruel cliffhanger. Definitely a set of books I could read again. If you haven’t read Scythe then you can check out my review here, and if you have then you can check out the one for Thunderhead over here.

What Do You Think You’ll Read Next?

This has been on my TBR list for a while now and I think it’s time to give it a go. I have only heard good things about this series, which makes me even more excited to read it. If it’s as good as the Throne of Glass one then I’ll be more than happy. I don’t know too much about the world and the characters (thankfully I haven’t run into any spoilers on social media) but I can’t wait to dive into the world of the fae.

Once again, I am sorry for being a little MIA. I still have two reviews to write for Frozen Tides and Crystal Storm by Morgan Rhodes, both of which I adored, but I think that because I am so far into the series now I am going to do mini reviews instead. Plus, I’ve read a couple books in between that and my memory isn’t all that good.

I think I blinked and May just disappeared in an instant. How did it go by so quickly? Probably because the month was jam packed with fun activities, movie trips, lots of editing for my novel, and a tonne of amazing books!

At the beginning of the month I set myself a target of reading 7 books (a lot more than I’m used to) and I am happy to say that I reached it. I only deviated from my TBR once because I was approved for a book on NetGalley, but apart from that I read everything I wanted to.

Books I Read…

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

I started off the month by finishing Falling Kingdoms and I was swept away by this incredible story. I was completely hooked by the characters and the world that Rhodes created. A lot of people have talked about this series, mainly good things, and I am so glad that I gave it a chance because it is one of my favourites! As soon as I finished it I went onto buy the next two in the series. I ended up giving this 5 stars, and you can read my review here.

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

These books are getting so big! I finally went back to reading this series in the month of May and I really enjoyed this instalment. So many amazing things happened and there were some reveals that left me in shock, especially towards the end. Aelin is a complete badass, as always, and I can confirm that my love for Rowan has grown considerably in this book (I knew it would happen eventually). It left me excited to read Empire of Storms, which I am currently reading, and it was so easy to give it 5 stars. You can check out my full review here.

Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes

By the time I had finished reading Queen of Shadows, the next two in the Falling Kingdoms series had arrived, so I was pretty certain with what I would be reading next. Once again I was drawn into the story and enjoyed everything that happened. The story definitely starts to develop more in this one and there wasn’t as much action unfortunately. However, we got to learn more about the characters and what means the most to them. You can read my 4 star review here.

Gathering Darkness by Morgan Rhodes

Well, this series just got kicked up a notch and it was torture not being able to carry on with the series (I hadn’t ordered the next ones at this point). I love how unpredictable the books are and I never really know what is going to happen. There was a lot of character development in Gathering Darkness, with some events happening that changed the lives of a few. We get to see a different side to Magnus and we realise how dangerous Lucia can be. As well as this, there was the introduction of some new characters that are probably going to feature a lot in Frozen Tides. In the end I gave this a solid 5 stars and you can find my review here.

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

May was the month that I finally found a sci-fi book that I fell in love with! Something I have mentioned before is that I don’t tend to read books from this genre, but I took a chance with Scythe and I am so glad that I did. This book is incredible and so unique! I love the ideas behind the world and how everything functions, with the Thunderhead governing the world and the Scythedom deciding how to whittle the population down through gleaning. There are so many twists within the story and unexpected events. I was blown away! One of the easiest 5 star ratings I have ever give, and you can read my thoughts here.

Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody

A last minute approval from NetGalley saw this book make its way into my reading list and I felt very lucky to have been given the chance to read it. Ace of Shades was such an enjoyable read, with great characters and a unique world that is mimicked off of Las Vegas. There are high stakes, a tonne of mystery and plenty of banter between the characters. I was pleasantly surprised by this novel and cannot wait until King of Fools comes out next year. I ended up giving this a solid 4 stars and if you want to know my full thoughts, click here.

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

And last, but not least, I finished off the Grisha trilogy with Ruin and Rising, which I just finished my review of today. I always hate finishing a series off, but I guess the good thing is that I have two spin-off series to look forward to in the future. Ruin and Rising offered, what I thought, was the perfect ending for the characters and so much happened. There were a couple plot twists that I wasn’t expecting and a lot of heartache for the characters. While this series isn’t the best (I much preferred Bardugo’s writing in The Language of Thorns) it still captured my heart and for that reason I gave this 5 stars, which you can read about here.

There we have it! Turns out every book I read this month was 4 stars and above, which is pretty good going I think. I loved all these books for different reasons and they have made me even more excited for the books I am reading in June.

The days are going by far too quickly. Where did the last four months go to? April was an extremely busy month for me, what with moving house and all, so I’m genuinely surprised that I managed to read six books in total. That is the most I have read in a month so far this year (although I missed out on seven as I didn’t finish Falling Kingdoms in time).

Overall, April was a great month for reading, and every book I read was 3.5 stars and above. A record I think. I even found a new favourite that I love with all my heart.

Books I Read…

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

The first book I finished in the month was Norse Mythology, which was a book that I had sitting on my kindle since Christmas. I had never read anything by Gaiman before this and finally understood why people loved his writing so much. He is an incredible story teller and his thoughts on Norse Mythology were refreshing. I only knew bits and pieces (mainly thanks to Marvel) but I ended up really enjoying the collection of stories. You can read more about why I gave this book 4 stars here.

The Oracle Queen by Kendare Blake

This was a pre-ordered novella that I bought because honestly, I need as much as I can get about this world because the third book seems so far away still. I love everything about this series and while this was only a novella, I really enjoyed learning more about the infamous Oracle Queen. Her story wasn’t what I thought it would be and I was pleasantly surprised. I gave this a solid 4 stars, which you can read about here.

Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian

I was lucky enough to be given the chance to review Ash Princess on NetGalley and I thought that it was a really great debut novel for Sebastian. It seems many people agree with me as it just hit the NYT bestseller list, which is incredible. This was a really great start to what will probably be an amazing trilogy, with characters that I cared about and some really interesting aspects to do with the magic. You can check out my full review here and see why I gave it four stars.

The Smoke Thieves by Sally Green

Again, another book that I was given on NetGalley to review, and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. This story is told through multiple perspectives and features five diverse characters, whose paths end up crossing over (some in unusual ways). While there is some action, mainly towards the end of the book, it is slow moving in some places, but there are also great characters in it too. This was a mixed one for me and in the end I gave it 3.5 stars, which you can read about here.

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

Hands down my favourite book of the month. Sky in the Deep was incredible and I was so happy to find out that it hit the NYT bestseller list this morning because this book deserves it. I kind of hate that this is a standalone because I want more of these characters, but at the same time it is one of the best standalones that I have read. While there is so much action in this book, with incredible fight scenes, there is also a lot of raw emotion and some amazing and relatable characters who tugged on my heart strings. You can see why I gave this book a solid five stars in my review here.

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

Last, but not least, I read Nevernight by Jay Kristoff. I didn’t know what to expect when I first started reading this novel, but I ended up loving it. You never know what will happen, but one thing that’s for sure is that it is action packed, with lots of killing, drama, sex and swearing. I couldn’t get this story out of my head for days and that is how I knew that I loved it. Now I need to get my hands on Godsgrave. Check out my 4.5 star review here.

And there we have it, all the incredible books that I read in the month of April. I also noticed that there seems to be a pattern of light and dark covers, which was completely unintentional.

How we are already through the first quarter of the year, I don’t know. March seemed to come and go in the blink of an eye. I celebrated my birthday, had some very long weekends, finished writing my novel, and read quite a few books (some very good books). Overall, March was a great month and it has really set me up for the rest of the year.

Not only that, but I found a place that I am going to be moving into with my boyfriend. While it was a last minute decision, we are so excited to be moving in just over two weeks time! We already have everything we need (which is currently piled up in my bedroom and my mum’s kitchen), we just need to order the sofa and get a microwave. I am so excited to be moving out on my own (although I am a little nervous). Time to find out if I can really do this whole adulting thing.

March was a great month for reading, even if I didn’t manage to get through as many books as I would have liked to.

Books I Read…

To Kill A Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

The first book I read in the month was the wonderful To Kill A Kingdom, a story of pirates and sirens that was done in a way I hadn’t seen before. The characters were amazing and I often found myself smiling at their banter, especially when it came to our main characters. I really enjoyed this debut and felt very lucky to have been accepted to read it on NetGalley. You can check out my 4.5 star review here.

The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo

You may find it hard to believe, but before last month I had never read any of Leigh Bardugo’s books. I felt very late to the party and decided the best place to begin would be with her collection of stories and boy, was I right. The Language of Thorns helped to pull me out of a terrible reading slump with the incredible stories and beautiful writing. I haven’t loved a book like this in a while, so of course I gave it five stars! Click here to see my review.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Once I had a taste for Bardugo’s writing style, I knew I needed more. I started Shadow and Bone and flew through it in less than two days. While it wasn’t the best story I have ever read, I love the world and I was rooting for the characters. The endings really know how to hook you and I was more than happy to give it 4 stars, which you can read about here.

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

After the ending of the first book I just had to dive straight into the second one. While it took me a little longer to read than the first, I really enjoyed where the story was going and seeing the growth of the characters, like Alina. So many things happened, especially towards the end, and I loved the introduction of Nikolai, a character who I hope to see more of in the final book. You can read my 4 star review here.

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

This, hands down, is my favourite book of the year so far. Children of Blood and Bone was such an incredible debut that left me wanting more. For a book that is over 500 pages long, I flew through it because of the fast pace, amazing action sequences and captivating descriptions. I can see now why there is so much hype surrounding its release and you can guarantee that I will now read anything that Adeyemi writes. One of the easiest 5 stars I have ever given, which you can read about here.

Five books in a month is very good for me, but I am hoping that April can be even better (I’ve already finished two!). It seems that my plan of not sticking to a TBR list is working as I have been enjoying all the books I am choosing, which I hope can continue.

Well, March really did creep up on me. It’s supposed to be spring time and yet we were just hit with the most snow we’ve seen in the UK in years and I’ve had to work from home for the last three days (not as fun as it sounds when you can’t leave the house at all). The start of the month hasn’t been too great as I am once again ill and haven’t read a book in a couple of days now.

February came and went within the blink of an eye, but it was a busy month so I’m not really surprised. Hard to believe we’ll be over a quarter of the way through the year before we know it and in just over three weeks it’ll be my birthday. That means more book buying (and books being given as gifts).

I have some exciting news about my current WIP…it’s almost finished. I’m currently at 97,000 words (seems like a lot now) and I only have two chapters left to write. TWO! This book is everything to me and I love the characters so much. There is a lot of work to do, some plot holes to fill in, dialogue to flesh out, but I am so excited. I even bought a bottle of Moet & Chandon Rose to celebrate tomorrow night (because I will finish it tomorrow, I just know it). The last time I finished writing a book was a long time ago, maybe 2011/2012. I’m not sure, so it is an amazing feeling to have again. Let’s hope I can get an agent.

Books I Read…

Keeper of the Watch by Kristen L. Jackson

The first book I finished in the month was a bit of a disappointment to me. I went into it knowing I didn’t really enjoy the sci-fi genre and I hoped this could change my mind. It didn’t. However, as with everything, there were some good points to it. It had a fast pace, was light hearted and there was some good banter between the characters. Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with this book and that is why I gave it 3 stars. You can read my review here.

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

I think I expected something a little different when I read the blurb for The Hazel Wood. I expected it to have more parts dedicated to the dark and creepy fairy tales. I wanted more of an atmosphere, but a large part of the plot took place in New York, giving it an urban fantasy feel. I enjoyed the book, but I didn’t connect with the characters or the story they were telling. Overall, this was a 3 star read for me and you can check out all my thoughts here.

Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh

I’ve gone on about this book a few times since I read it, but if you didn’t know already, I loved it. Everything about this book was perfect to me and it had everything I love in a dark, YA Fantasy novel. There was action, love, death, and it covered the tough topic of how to deal with grief and the ways in which it can manifest. I was hooked, sinking deeper into the world and I didn’t want to story to end. All in all, this book was more than deserving of 4.5 stars, and you can read my review here.

Between the Blade and the Heart by Amanda Hocking

The final book I read in February was kind of mediocre in terms of writing, but I still found it enjoyable and fun. This book didn’t take itself too seriously and was set within an urban fantasy world with Norse mythology woven into it. Definitely a unique idea that I’m not used to and actually liked. The characters were okay, there was a bit of romance and quite a lot of action. I know there is a second book, and as I gave the first 3 stars, I want to find out how it will end. Check out my full reviewhere.

While I mainly stuck to the TBR list I set myself at the beginning of the month, I did deviate a little and there was a couple of books I didn’t get to. 4 in total isn’t too bad, especially as I’ve been ill twice in a month (so not fun) and I’ve been diving into my writing. Plus, February is a shorter month anyway so fingers crossed March allows me to read more amazing books.

I have never been happier to see February because honestly, January seemed like it would last forever. It’s always a tougher month because you have longer to wait until payday, but a lot happened, especially with work which has just been getting better and better. I’m almost at the two month mark now and I am loving it there. When you can get up and enjoy going to work, you know you’ve found a great job.

In terms of my WIP, it’s been a pretty great month with a total of 22,000 words being written. While it may not seem a lot, I’m really happy with that and I managed to stick to my 1,000 words a day during the week. On the weekends I seemed to write a lot less and sometimes not even at all, but with my week being so full I just needed the break at times. For the month of February I’m looking to change that and to write 1,000 every day. Maybe if I do that I will have completed my first draft by March.

Overall, January was a great month for reading for me and below you can see the books that I read (quite a few from debut authors as well).

Books I Read…

Keeper by Kim Chance

The first book I read of 2018 was a NetGalley approval for debut author Kim Chance and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. Keeper was fun, entertaining and fast paced, always keeping me turning the page. The characters were extremely likeable, even if they were a little young compared to what I’m used to reading (and writing). I rated Keeper a solid 4 stars and you can check out my review here.

The Young Queens by Kendare Blake

Last year I read Three Dark Crowns and One Dark Throne, so of course I was going to read the Novella, The Young Queens. It was wonderful to learn more of the backstory, featuring the mother of the Queens and seeing how they grew up in their respective homes. While you don’t necessarily have to read this, it does provide you with a little more insight. And because I loved it so much I gave The Young Queens 5 stars. Check out more of my thoughts in my review here.

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Slowly, but surely, I have been making my way through the Throne of Glass series and I have been loving it! Honestly, I think that it is one of my favourite series of all time and I still have three books left to read (four if you count the final instalment coming out this year). It just seems that each book gets better and I can’t wait to dive into the series again in February. Of course, I had to give Heir of Fire 5 stars and you can check out my full review here.

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton

Thank god I got accepted for this on NetGalley because The Belles is a gem of a book. Words cannot describe how much I adored this debut novel and I urge everyone to head out and buy this book when the release date arrives. The descriptive writing blew me away and the dark undertones to the story added so much depth. If you would like to see why I rated this book a solid 5 stars, then click hereto read more.

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

What a book to end the month on! The Cruel Prince was deliciously dark and intriguing, with so many plot twists that I never saw coming. I was going to wait to buy this but when the hardback came down to half price I couldn’t resist and I’m glad I didn’t. I had never read any of Holly Black’s books before, but I want to read more of them, especially if they include evil and dangerous Faeries. I rated this 4.5 stars and you will find my review here.

Since I started this blog, January has been my best month for reading and although 5 books may not seem a lot to others, it’s a big deal for me. Especially when I’m busying working, writing and trying to have some kind of life (not much of one, but oh well). If every month was like this then I am on track to reaching my Goodreads goal of 50 books early!

December was a strange month. Not only did it fly by with Christmas looming in the distance, the first couple of weeks were stressful due to my boyfriend’s operation. The Christmas break allowed me time to relax, de-stress from the last few weeks and spend some quality time with the ones I love (although I wish I hadn’t been ill for most of it).

Today I just got home from my holiday in Ireland with my dad and family (btw, flying in the wind is not fun) and I am ready for the New Year, heading back to work and setting myself some goals to achieve in 2018. When I was thinking about what I wanted to achieve, I decided to make them as realistic as possible. Here are just a few:

Finish writing my novel (I’m 50,000 words in and hope to finish it and have it edited by the end of 2018).

Read 50 books (seems do-able with one a week).

Work on my health and fitness (this is one I know will take time, but I am more than willing to commit).

Post more regularly on my blog (If I can do at least 3 a week, I’ll be happy).

Save money (this will be the most difficult for me, I like to buy things).

Always look at the positives in every situation (if the last few months have taught me anything, it’s that things aren’t always as bad as they seem).

Fingers crossed, that at the end of 2018 I can look back on these and say that I completed them. Now to go onto the important things, the books I read. While it may not seem a lot, I have to remind myself that it was a busy month and I can work on it in the New Year.

Books I Read…

Everless By Sara Holland

I feel that Everless was one of my favourite reads of 2017, if not my favourite one! It was incredible, original and fast paced. Everless was everything I love in a book and I cannot wait for the sequel. I was easily able to give it five stars and you can check out my review here.

Angelfall by Susan Ee

Finally I got around to reading Angelfall after hearing so much about the series and I have to say that I enjoyed it. While it isn’t what I am used to reading now (I prefer Fantasy books and novels with a more grown up POV), it was a great change of pace and was worthy of the 4 stars. You can read my review here.

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

All I can say is, Holy crap…this book was incredible and that ending was amazing. I loved Crown of Midnight even more than Throne of Glass (if that is even possible) and I have a feeling this series is going to get better and better with each one. Easily a five star read and you can check out my thoughts here.

I guess 3 books isn’t too bad considering all that happened in the space of a month. I am aiming to read at least 4 every month if I can and maybe sometimes I will read even more.

Hopefully you managed to read some incredible books in the last month of 2017 and here’s to many more in 2018!

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Welcome to My Blog!

I’m Georgina and this is my little part of the internet. Not only do I love reading and reviewing books, but I’m also a writer. I hope that one day my books will be next to some of my favourites in book stores. This is my journey.